The Orange Democratic Movement is staring at one of its most defining ideological battles yet, as senior leaders clash over whether the party should reclaim its firebrand protest identity or embrace President William Ruto’s broad-based government through dialogue and negotiation.
What began as a commemoration of the party’s 20-year journey in Mombasa quickly morphed into a rare and unfiltered confrontation over the soul and direction of a movement built on defiance, sacrifice, and public resistance.
ODM supporters during the ODM@20 anniversary at Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa on November 15, 2025. Photo credit: Wachira Mwangi | Nation Media Group
At the centre of the storm stands Siaya Governor James Orengo, one of the party’s longest-serving ideologues and a veteran of Kenya’s pro-democracy struggle, who warns that ODM risks “dying like other liberation movements in Africa” if it abandons the people and retreats into comfort.
“But if ODM is strong, and you stand on the basis that your leader Raila wanted a strong and free country, we must fight everywhere,” he declared during one of his addresses at the three-day event in Mombasa.
“If there are cowards in this party, don’t sell fear to us. We are prepared to go back to the streets.
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